Diversity

Running head: DIVERSITY

Diversity

Matilda Burk

University of Phoenix

Diversity Issues in Communication

COMM/315

Instructor: Glory Daniels

23, April 2009

Diversity

People could speculate that if human group have obvious physical differences, then they could have corresponding mental or personality differences. No one disagrees that people differ in temperament, potential to learn, and sense of humor. In its social sense, race implies that groups that differ physically also bear distinctive emotional and mental abilities or disabilities. These beliefs are based on the notion that humankind can be divided into distinct groups.

Stereotypes are exaggerated images of the characteristics of a particular group. Team C provides evidence of stereotypes due to religion. The team has analyzed the movie “Traitor” to expose the exaggeration of stereotypes in certain groups. The character Samir Horne a CIA agent in the movie infiltrated a terrorist group to expose each member that has been disbursed in the United States for acts of terrorism. In doing so, the character Samir Horne is considered a traitor to his country and he himself is wanted for terrorism. The movie is said to have steered clear of racial stereotyping but stereotyping is certainly involved. To accomplish the objective in the movie the character Samir Horne is forced to overcome communication barriers between him and the CIA. The only form of communication is through “informal channels, a form that do not follow the chain of command (Schermerhorn, Hunt, & Osborn, 2005, pp. 297).”

Cultural stereotypes are dangerous even though they provide clues to the behavior of the average person in the culture. The reason “birds of a feather flock together” is such a powerful adage is because we like to spend time with those who are like us which is one of the reason why people say, “They are in America; people saying they are in America should act like Americans.” The U. S. Americans who make...